DRAKON GIGANTOMAKHIOS

Greek Name

Δρακων Γιγαντομαχιος

Transliteration

Drakôn Gigantamakhios

Latin Spelling

Draco Gigantomachius

Translation

Dragon of the Giant-War

THE DRAKON GIGANTOMAKHIOS (Dragon of the Giant-War) was a huge serpent thrown at the goddess Athena by the giants. She caught it up and impaled it upon the pole of heaven to form the constellation Draco.

Draco was usually identified as the Hesperian dragon, guardian of the golden apples of the Hesperides.

PARENTS

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 3 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Constellation Serpent . . . Some also say this Draco (Dragon) was thrown at Minerva [Athene] by the Gigantes, when she fought them. Minerva [Athena], however, snatched its twisted form and threw it to the stars, and fixed it at the very pole of heaven. And so to this day it appears with twisted body, as if recently transported to the stars."